Saw shifter



Nov. 29, 1927. v

G. w. DORMAN SAW SHIFTER 4 Sheets-Sheet l w 0 WW 0 M. 0 AL 0 mm W lllllllllll w O O O Q IQ Original Filed Sept. 16. :1925

ATTORNEY WITNESSES I 6Q 7 Nov. 29, 1927.

' G. w. DORMAN SAW SHIFTER ts-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept WITNESSES ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1927,

e. w. DORMAN SAW SHIFTER Original Filed Sept. 16. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY INVENTOR) (hows Wm" Nov. 29, 192 7.

G. W. DORMAN SAW SHIF'TER Original Filed Sept. 16. 1925 W Rx w l I I INVENTOR, GearyeVl Tfiarman,

ATTORNEY s E s s E N n w Lia Patented Nev. 29,1927. p

a ers m GEGRGE W. D O lR-MAN, OF EVERETRWVASHINGTOH, ASSIGNGR' TO SUMNER IRON "WORKS,

or EVERETT, wasnrneron-n conronnmiononwasnrneron.

saw: sHIrrER.

Application filed September 1s, 1925, Serial no, 56,713., Reiiewed october 14, 1927.

This invention relates to a saw shifter, with particular reference to that class of saws knownas gang edgers.

The general object of the invention is to provide simpleand eiiicient means which may be conveniently operated, eitherby mtive power or by hand, to shift one or more saws laterally.

A further and more specific object is to provide means travelling continuously in oppositedirections, exemplified, in the present instance, by two rollerchains, and means for" temporarily connecting the shifter carriage to either chain so as to shift the saw in either direction as far as desired.

The shifting device isalso constructed and arranged in such a manner that whenever it is desired to move allthe saws in the gang toward one end, all that is necessary to'be done is to place all the levers in upright position and operate the one on the end. This shifter will then push the otherswall down the line a The invention consists further in certain novel details of construction and combinations of elements, the objects and advantages of which will be more particularly explained with-reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment there of.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine showing'agang of edgers, the shifters and means for controlling the same. i

Figure Qis a front elevation showing-I the power driven mechanism for effecting the shifting, all but one of the saws and shifters being broken away. 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary'view, partly in plan and partly in section, illustrating the train of gearing by which the shifting chains are driven.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the shifting mechanism and the means for supporting the same.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating particularly the means for look ing; the shifter carriage. c 3

Figuree is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Figure 2, portions being" broken. away andshown in sect-ion.

The'invention is shown in connection with a gang edger having a pluralitybf sawslO, splined on an arbor 11, which is rotatably therewith.

mounted in bearings '12 supported on. the edger frame 13. The lumber is fed by means I of a rotating feed roller 14, having a shaft mounted in bearings 16' on the frame 13. p The position of each saw longitudinally of the arbor is determined by a bifurcated guide arm 17, the front end of which is bolted, at 18, to a carriage 19supported for slidable longitudinal adjustment on a chain nel bar 20 and a rail 21, which is bolted to a bar 22. Each carriage has two legs 23 and 2d diverging rearwardly from the lower front rail of the carriage, and each provided witha foot '25. These feet are guided in channels 26 formedin the front face ofthe rail 21, and are retained therein by keeper strips27, which are secured to the bar and overhang the channels. 1

Each shifter carriage is in the form of a skeleton frame having pairs of opposed clamping strips 28, 29 and 30, which may be drawn together by bolts 3lto clainpthe respective collars 32, 33 and 34 thereon. AV

rocker shaft: 35 is mounted inthese collars, and is provided substantially midway between the collars 32 and 33' with an annular shoulder 36. Sprocket wheels 37 and 38 are rotatably mounted respectively on opposite sides -of the shoulder 36, and over these sprockets pass roller chains 39 and 40, re

spectively.

The chains 39 and 40 are caused to travel in opposite directions, and the sprocket wheels 37 and38 are normally rotated thereby. The hubs of the respective sprocket wheelsare formed witlrperipheralflanges 41" having flat faces which normally are slightly separated fron'rthe corresponding faces of flanges 42 formed on the respective collars 32 and 33.' By moving the shaft 32 in the direction of its length, therefore, the shoulder 36 will cause either one (if the sprockethubs to engage the adjacent end of the corresponding collar, and the co-en'gaginn faces of the fianges41 and 42 act as a disk clutch, thus clutching the sprocket to the collar and stoppingits rotation,whereupon further travel of the sprocket chain" will force the shifter carriage to travel The travel of the chains 39: andf 40 is ef fected through; themedium of a shaft 43, V

which is journaled within a housing 44; mounted at one side of the edger frame. The shaft 43 has a bevel gear l5 secured to one end, which meshes with a bevel pinion 46 secured on a jack shaft 47, also journaled in the housing 44. The shaft 47 is connected to the feeder shaft 15, and driven therefrom by means .of sprocket gearing 48 housed within a gear casing 49. The shaft15 may be driven from any suit-able source of power, which also drives the saws. The chain passes from the sprocket 38 over. a sprocket'50 which is keyed to the shaft43, so that the chain 40 is directly driven thereby. From the sprocket the chain 40 passes downwardly within a housing 51 about an idler sprocket 52, and thence underneath the carriage to the other side of theedger frame, where it passes about a sprocket 53 on a shaft 54 mounted in a housing 55, and thence upwardly and over a sprocket 56 on a shaft 57, and thence back to the sprocket'50. Another shaft 58 is journaled in the housing beside the shaft 57, and is driven therefrom but in the opposite direction by means of spur gears 59 and 60 niounted'on the shafts 57 and 58, respectively. A sprocket 61 is keyed to the shaft 58, and the chain 39 passes over the sprocket 61 and is driven thereby in an opposite direction to the travel of the chain The chain 39 passes from the sprocket 61 over sprocket 37 and a sprocket 62 rotatably mounted on the shaft 43, and passes thence underneath the carriage and back to the righthand side of the edger, in the same manner as chain 40. Thus, it will be understood that whenever the saws are in operation, the chains 39 and 40 are caused to. travel continuously in opposite directions.

For the purpose of shifting the rocker shafti35in either direction to cause either the sprocket 37 or 38 to be clutched to the corresponding collar 32 or 33, said rocker shaft has a' forwardly extending reduced portion 63 on which is secured a sleeve 64. This sleeve extends through the collar 34, and is formed with double threads which en-- gage corresponding internal threads formed in the collar 34. By rocking the shaft 35, therefore, and the sleeve 64, only a slight amount, either in one direction or the other, theshaft may be advanced or retracted sufficiently so that either of the sprockets 39 or..40 will be clutched to the corresponding collar, and the shifter carriage 19 will be .caused to travel with either the chain 39 orthe chain 40.

. The shaft 35 may be rocked by means of a handlev 65, which is formed with a yoke 66gembracing the front end of the sleeve 64, and connected therewith by a pin 67 which traverses theyoke, and airear 6 8 depending from the sleeve 64 It will beunderstood, therefore, that when the handle 65 is inthe position shown in Figure 4, it may be moved laterally to rock the shaft 35, and advance or retract the lat- .yond the pin 67, as shown in'Figure 7 for the purpose of locking the shifter carriage after the latter has been adjusted. For effecting this locking function, the yoke 66 projects downwardly into a recess 69 formed in a locking bar 70, which is guided for longitudinal movement, and has a forwardly projecting foot 71 formed with a longitudinal slot 72, which receives a pin 73 secured in the lower part of the carriage frame. The foot 71 terminates in a toe 74, which, when the handle 65 is swung outwardlly, is adapted to engage rack teeth 75 formed on the front side of the upper keeper strip 27, or any other stationary part of the frame, so that the shifter carriage is positively held against movement laterally of the edger frame. \Vhen the handle 65 is swung inwardly, as shown in Figure 4, so that its shank is perpendicular to the rocker shaft 35, the toe 74 discngagcs the rack teeth 75, and the shifter carriage is unlocked.

As a means for retaining the shifter carriage more securely in its locked position, the outer end of the lock bar 70 is provided with an inclined face 76, which is automatically engagcable by the inclined face of the lock plunger 77, as shown in Figure 5, this plunger being slidably mounted within a depending sleeve 78 and urged upwardly by a coiled spring 79. The strength of this spring is sufficient to retain the lock bar 70 firmly in locking position, but the plunger 77 may be forced downwardly by the horizontal outward movement of the lock bar 7 0, when the handle is lifted.

The relation of the collars 32 and 33 to the sprocket wheels 37 and 38 is such that only a comparatively slight rocking movement of the shaft 35 is necessary in order to move it from neutral position into such a position that it will be clutched to either sprocket. The normal position of the shaft 35 may be adjusted by rotating the collar 34. For this purpose, the sleeve is provided with a head 80, which may he engaged by a spanner wrench.

A gage bar 81. is secured to the frame 13 in front of the feed 101114, and is provided with an appropriate scale, and the carriage is provided with suitable indicating fingers 1 82 for measuring the position of the saw.

Although means have been provided for connecting the shifter carriage to either one of the chains 39 or 4O, so that the shifting operation may be effected by the same source of power that drives the saw, the shifter carriage may also be moved manually in case the power mechanism should get out of order, or the power be shut off. To do this, it is only necessary, after the lock bar 70 has I chain elements engaging unlock the several shiftercarriages hymoving all of the. handles 65 to an upright position, and then by shifting the'shaft 35 on the end carrage, causeit tomove toward the other curriagesf Each C221 gewill enas the nest, sothat all will he pushed doivn the line. 1 I i While the invention is shown and illustral'ed in connection with a gang edger, it is obvious that thefessential features thereof an be applied with advantage to any ma chine that requires frequent and rapid 'po-j sitionEng ofa cutting tool or similarelement. It saves a greatdeal of time, and enables the operator to do more and better work. While I have shown and described in detail the construction of one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to he un derstood that the invention: isnot limited thereto, but includes allmo'difications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis: I t 1. In a shifting device, thecomhination of a shifter carriage-mounted for rectilinear movement, two sprocket wheels rotatahly mounted on said carriage, oppositely travelsprocket wheels, and --means for selectively clutching either of said sprocket Wheels to a relatively fixed part of the carriage, so as to stop the rotation ofthe sprocket-wheel and cause the latter and the carriage to travel with the corresponding chain element.

2. In a shifting of a shifter carriage mounted for rectilinear movement, two sprocket Wheels mounted on,

sa d carriage and normally free to rotate, sprocketchains passing over and engaging the respective sprocket wheels, means for driving said chains continuously in opposite directions and thereby normally driving said sprocket wheels in opposite directions, and means for selectively clutching either of said sprocket wheelsto a relatively fixed part of the carriage so as to stop the rotation of the sprocket wheel and causethe latter and the carriage to travel with the corresponding chain.

movement, a pairof alined hearing collars clamped in said collars, two sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, oppositely traveling chain elements engaging said sprocket wheels, and means for selectively clutching corresponding colla ylto continue, to move threaded connection, to

the respective device, the combination 3. In a shifting device, the combination of a shifter carriage mounted for rectllinear said carriage, a shaft mounted'in directions,

either one of said sprocket Wheels to one of "the collars-so as to stop the rotation of said sprocketwheel and cause the latter andthe carriage to; travel, with the corresponding chain element. r 7

l. In a shifting device, thecombinationof -a shiftercarriagej mounted for rectilinearmovement, a pair of alined hearing collars secured in said carriage, a shaft mounted n said collars, -two sl irocket wheels rotatahlyf mounted on; said shaftbetween thecol-lars, oppositely traveling chain elements engagmg saidpsprocl'ret Wheels,a shoulder onthe shaft between the sprocket" wheels, and

means fornioving the shaft lengthwise lI1-' either direction to cause said shouldervto engage either one of the sprocket wheels and clutch tho so as to stop the rotation of said sprocket wheel, thereby causing the carriage to travel with the corresponding chain element 5. Ida shifting device, the combination vof a shifter carriage mounted for rectilinear movement, a pair of alined hearing collars clampedm said carnage, a shaft mounted in said collars, two sprocket: wheels rotatahly mounted on said shaft between the collars,

oppositely traveling chain elements engaging said sprocket wheels, a thlrd collar clamped. in said carriageand having a threaded connectioniwith said shaft, and a shaft and operable 1 handle connected tov the to rock the same and, by reason of said move the same longitudinally in either direction to cause shoulder to engage either one of the sprocket wheels and clutch the same to the adjacent collar, sprocket Wheel and cause the latter and the carriage to travel with the corresponding chain element. to

6. In a shifting device, the combination said i same to the adjacent collar,

so as to stop the rotation of said of a shifter carriage having a pair of alined hearings, a rocker shaft mounted in said hearings, a handle mounted on said shaft and operable to rock the same, means for moving said rocker shaft longitudinally whenit is rocked, two endless elements travcling in opposite directions, said carriage heing guided for rectilinear movement parallel to the travel of said endless elements, and means carried by the shaft and operable when the shaft is moved longitudinally in one direction or' the other to connect the carriage to' one or the other of said traveling elements so as to travel therewith.

7. In a shifting device, the combination of a stationary frame, ashiftercarriage hav ing a pair of alined hearings, a rocker shaft mounted in said hearings, a handle mounted on said sha-ftand operable to rock the same, saidhandle being also pivoted to swing about an axistransverse to the rocker shaft, two endless elements traveling 1n opposite said carriage being guided for rectilinear movementvin said frame parallel to the vcarriage to stop wheel and cause the carriage to travelwith a stationary frame,

elements, power means to the travel of said endless elements, means normally rotating idly on the shaft and engaging the respective endless elements and operable when the shaft is rocked inone direction or the other, to connect the carriage 'to one or the other of said'traveling elements so as to-travel therewith, :able'by the handle when swung outwardly and means operabout itspivot to lock the carriage to said frame and positively prevent its rectilinear 'movement. a

'8; In'ashifting device, the combination of a stationary frame, a shifter carriage having a pair of alined bearings, a shaft mounted insaid bearings, ably mounted on said shaft, oppositely traveling elements engaging the respective sprocket wheels, said carriage being guided for rectilinear movement parallel to the travel of said traveling elements, and a handle mounted on the shaft and selectively operable to clutch either of said sprocket wheels the rotation of. the

two sprocket wheels rotatdie to connect with the carriage the sprocket wheelwhose chain clement travels in the same direction in which the handle is swun so that the carriage will travel with said chain element, said handle being operable upon further movement in the same direction to shift the carriage in case the power means is not operating.

10. In a shifting device, the combination of a stationary frame, a plurality of carriages guided thereon for rectilinear movement in alinement with each other, two endless elements traveling in opposite directions parallel to the direction in which the carriages may move, a rocker shaft ournaled in each carriage, a handle mounted on the shaft and operable-to rock the same and normally "extending substantially at right angles to said shaft, means operable by the rocking of the shaft in either direction to connect the carriage to either of the endless elements,

each handle being also pivoted to swing outwardly about an axis transverse to the respective shaft, means operable by the handle to positively lock the carriage and the- "frame only when said handle is swung out- 'wardly from its normal position, each carriage, when unlocked, being movable into engagement with thenext carriage so that all of said carriages may be moved toward the SlClG'Of the frame by manipulating the handle ,on-the end carriage.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

GEORGE w. DORMAN. 

